| EDUCATION |
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| H.M. the King has said "I am convinced that nothing is more essential
to national prosperity and happiness than Education. A true education would transform our
national life in a generation."
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| THE earliest reference to Education in Bury is in connection with the
Grammar School, for in 1635-6 the Rev. Henry Bury left £300 towards its funds, but it probably
existed long before that time. During the seventeenth century the school passed through hard
times, but even in this period students Education entered Cambridge University from Bury Grammar
School. New life and vigour were infused in 1726 when the Rev. Roger Kay refounded and
re-endowed it. From this time it increased in importance ; it was rebuilt in 1783 enlarged
in 1861 and 1890 while in 1903 the old school house in the Wylde (the Church House) was
vacated, and the present fine premises occupied.
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| The Girls' Grammar School has a much shorter history. It is the successor
to the High School for Girls, established in a house nearly opposite Bolton Street Station,
in 1884. Good work was done here, and Staff and Pupils were transferred in 1906 to the present school.
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| A progressive policy has been adopted at the Grammar Schools, as shown
by the building of the shooting range, the provision of the extensive playing fields, and
the recently acquired holiday camp.
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| In 1748, the Rev. the Hon. J. Stanley (Rector of Bury) was responsible
for the founding of a school for eighty boys and thirty girls. This was for poor children,
many of them being provided with clothing. Later, to provide better conditions, a new
school-house was erected in 1815, at the corner of Clough Street and Stanley Street; this
became known as the Free School, and continued to be used until the present Parish Church
Schools were built, :and the children from the Free School, and from the old Irwell School
were transferred to the new premises.
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| With the opening of the nineteenth century, the population began to
increase rapidly. Mills were opened and labour was in great demand. Children of seven and
upwards were sent to work in them and children from workhouses in the south were brought
in carts, and worked and lived, in some cases, at the mills. Many parents sent their
children to work for 12 hours per day, and 6 days per week, so that for many education
became impossible. During this dreadful period, which lasted for many years, the majority
of the workpeople could neither read nor write.
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| As Churches and Chapels were built, Sunday Schools were introduced,
and in these, reading, and sometimes writing, were taught, but only those persons who were
very keen and determined made much progress. These beginnings, however, led to the establishment
of many Day Schools, when the National Society and British and Foreign Schools Society
offered their assistance ; for between 1830 and 1860 the majority of the Bury Schools were
founded. People were also beginning to recognise what a great asset education was in the
development of industry and in the uplifting of the standards of the people, so that many
parents availed themselves of the opportunity to send their children to school. Young
children employed in mills had to attend classes, and as a consequence a considerable
number received some tuition. During this period there was generally one qualified teacher,
who provided the rest of the staff, which often meant that the better scholars were set to
teach the others.
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| When the famous Education Act of 1870 made the provision of schools
compulsory, Bury had already sufficient accommodation for its children, and no School
Board was established here ; the work being carried on in the existing schools, consequently
when the Charter of Incorporation was granted, in 1876, the need of an Education Committee
was not greatly felt, whereas, now, it is one of the most important sections of the Borough
Council. 1876 was also the year that education was made compulsory.
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| As Bury progressed industrially, the need for instruction in advanced
subjects became necessary, and attempts to meet the requirements were made by opening the
Bridge Hall Lyceum and the Mechanics' Institute. The latter was opened in 1836, in Silver
Street, but was transferred eight years later to premises in the Wylde provided by Mr.
Edmund Grundy. Here classes, attended by some two hundred and fifty students were held
in general subjects, and in French, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Drawing. In 1850 the
Athenaeum was opened, an institution which became the home of Societies concerned with
music, natural history, and literature. These were a valuable asset to the town and
supplied a real need. The classes from the Mechanics' Institute were transferred to the
Athenaeum. The Co-operative Society also conducted Evening Classes, which gave those
eager for self improvement further chances, but the drawback to these voluntary organisations
was the lack of co-ordination and accommodation.
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| The first great step by the Council in Educational matters was the
provision of the Technical School and School of Art, in 1894, at a cost of £22,969.
These were intended to provide better facilities for practical work in Technical Education.
These premises have been of great service to the town, providing not only for Technical work
but Commercial Classes as well. From 1899 to 1911 they were used as a Training Centre for
Pupil Teachers, and are now the home of the Junior Technical Day School.
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| In 1903, the Local Education Authority was made responsible for the schools
in its area, and the Board of Education was pressing for better organisation, so the Council
advertised for a Principal of the Technical School and School of Art, and Adviser on
Co-ordination of all types of Education. Some time later, in 1905 this office was merged
in that of Director of Education. From this time onward great improvements have been made.
Instead of Elementary Schools being isolated units, they form part of an united body, with
definite work; each school is expected to push forward capable scholars so that they may
pass on to higher education, as well as provide a good standard for those remaining to
complete their course in the elementary school. This passing upwards has made necessary
the provision of Secondary Schools, a Junior Technical School and Central Schools, and
Bury is to be congratulated on the excellent provision made.
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| When the Board of Education decided that the Technical School was
unsuitable for a Secondary School and Pupil Teacher Centre, and the Girls' Grammar School
could not find accommodation for the training of Pupil Teachers, the Council decided to
build a Secondary School for 360 boys and girls, and the Municipal Secondary School opened
by Lord Derby, in 1911, has fully justified their action.
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| In 1905, Holy Cross School became the Convent High School for girls,
and now ranks as a Secondary School.
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| Since Bury became a County Borough, Holy Cross, Bank Street, Parkhills,
Pits o' th' Moor, Heywood Street , Woolfold, Wood Street, Warth and Christian Church have
ceased to be recognised as elementary schools, while East Ward and Elton, two very fine
Council Schools, have been provided by the Local Authority.
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| Bury children are given every facility for progress in education. There
are well-conducted Infant Departments with Mixed Departments to carry forward the work.
At the age of eleven, every child who has shown good capacity may by a scholarship enter
the Grammar Schools - the Municipal Secondary School, or the Central Schools. At thirteen,
capable boys are admitted to the Junior Technical School, where special training is given
to prospective artisans. Evening Schools give additional chances to those who avail
themselves of the opportunity of benefitting by them, for many scholarships are awarded
whereby tuition may be obtained at the Technical School and School of Art (The Municipal
College). From the more advanced educational centres further scholarships may be obtained
to the Universities and Training Colleges. What glorious chances compared with 50 years ago!
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| No survey of education would be complete to-day without some reference
to the extra work undertaken by the Local Education Authority and its officers. For besides
the providing of schools for children from 4 to 18 years of age they undertake:
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| (a) To provide suitable education for defective children. |
| (b) To provide for Medical Inspection and treatment |
| (c) To provide meals for necessitous children. |
| (d) To see that children attend regularly. |
| (e) To administer by-laws regulating the employment of children. |
| (f) To assist children up to 18 years of age in obtaining suitable
employment, and to administer unemployment insurance to juveniles.
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| A Supervisor of Physical Training is at work, and great strides have
been made in the teaching of swimming and organised games, while the Elementary Schools
Athletic Association (The Teachers) has done great service by running leagues in Football,
Cricket, Rounders, and Swimming, and holding annual sports. These have assisted in creating
good comradeship and physical fitness.
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| Much remains for future development, but the foundations are well and
truly laid, and our Borough may well be proud of the achievements of the last fifty years.
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